Yngvesson, Robert

Abstract [en]

Sedentary lifestyle means less normal physical activity, less fitness among the population at large. This may lead to lower health, increased risk of cardiac disease. Less fitness also influences the psychological state of mind, leading to lower self-esteem. To remedy this, more physical activity should be encouraged among the people. To these physical and psychological needs the fact that more and more people live or are in daily contact with cities is added, which means the urban landscapes play a role in motivating physical activity. Different urban landscapes affect the motivation in different ways. This thesis investigated how physical activity is affected by urban landscapes socially, environmentally, economically and by policies, and how to implement a multifunctional exercise area in Rosenholm, Karlskrona, Sweden. Methods such as literature review, interviews, site analyzes and case studies were made in order to get promote theories based on research to design an “Innovative Complete and Optimal Training-track” in Rosenholm together with a development group initiated by “Blekinge Health Arena”. Motivating physical activity can be promoted by measures belonging to the field of urban design, by taking physical, economic, social and cultural factors into account together with policies in all levels. Policymaking is an essential way to increase physical activities among the population and to affect the built environment, which is discussed in this thesis. In order to promote physical activities in urban areas there is no simple solution to apply in order to get results. There is no design to fit them all. Simply creating good opportunities to perform physical activity by means of urban landscapes cannot solve the fact that the public health is decreasing by lack of physical activity. This is as much, if not more, a matter of motivation and change in behavior. But in order to get motivation and to change behavior an environment offering opportunities and possibilities to perform physical activity and at the same time offers socializing is a good start. There are so many dimensions and aspects that need to be considered and are specific in each and every case. A design proposal was made in the Rosenholm case study where various aspects discussed in this thesis were considered displayed by maps, renderings and images.